The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-10
1etu publications.


This is one of the most important publica-
| tons of the day, and in all respects model
biography. Mr.. Cabot is Mr.. Emerson,s
literary executor, and as such had access to
his private letters and journals and the mass
| of unpublished manuscripts which consti-
tuted Emerson's literary remains" With
skill and tact surpassed by no biographer
OF the present generation, Mr.. Cabot has un-
folded the story of Emerson's life, and in
corporated many of these letters and ex-
tracts from the journals in regular order.
giving also digest of the various lectures
and courses of lectures which the great seer
and philosopher produced during his splendid
career. The work is most satisfactory
piece of literary biography. Emerson is
brought very near to its readers; and if the
effect is to remove the philosopher from the
high pedestal of an ideal figure in letters, it is
to bring the man into the foreground and to
attach readers to the student and thinker as
he was amid the environment of his own
family and friends.
| Mr.. Cabot does not pose in these volumes
as an interpreter of Emerson, He paints
him with rare skill as a man and a student.
from those early years when he was strug-
Cling for place in the world of letters to
that later period of his career when his in
tiuence as writer was world wide, and when
none but himself could be his parallel"
The record of this career is one of the most
interesting in the history of American liter
ature. Mr.. Cabot's volumes reveal a very
gracious and unique personality, and no one
can read them without acknowledging the
purity and nobility of Emersons character
and becoming deeply interested in the per-
sonal history of the man thus revealed.
Ihe mechanical work of the volumes is of
the first order of excellence. The clear.
open page, large type, excellent press work
and chaste vellum binding, are in harmony
with the valuable matter they record. In
some important respects we count them as
the best specimens of the book makers art
thus far produced by the noted publishers.
Dr. Holiness Hundred Days in Europe,''
which delighted so many readers of the At
td''tfc Monthly during the year, is now pub
lished in a volume uniform with the other
works of the noted author. DR.. Holmes ia
always charming, no matter how he elects to
engage the reading public whether as eau
tocrat," Professor" novelist, poet, essayist
or letter writer In this record of his bril-
| liant visit of three months in Europe. where
he was the guest of so many noted people.
and dined and feted with all the accessories
of social distinction, he is as charming in
| description as the scenes and incidents he
places before the reader we're exceptionally
brilliant and interesting. 1t is certainly one
of the most entertaining volumes DIR. Holmes
has written and shows the wit and wisdom of
the poet and scholar, as well as the keen
social observer, in comparatively new field.
Boston: Houghton, Mifiin & Co. Price,
$1.50.
GRIGGs's PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS" HeeeI's
Philosophy of the State and of History.
An Exposition. By George Morris.
Messrs. 5. q. Griggs Co., of Chicago,
are doing great work for the students of
philosophy in bringing out in so neat dress
and at small cost, this series of philosophical
classics. For this they deserve the patron
age of all who are interested in the study of
philosophy. The present work, which be-
longs to this series of classical philosophers,
is real and valuable contribution to the
literature of philosophy. It is an exposition
of the philosophy of Hegel by Professor
George Morris, of the Michigan University.
The work of exposition is we'll and ably
done. Professor Morris is an original
thinker and is endowed with an acute phil
osophical insight. In the philosophy of
Hegel ne has fine subject, and in this work
is at his best. Hegel's work was one of
great ability ia Indicated H., -.
hold upon the philosophical thought of the
world for more than half century. His
influence on speculative thought will doubt
less be increased at the same time that it
Will be made more practical by Professor
Morris's able and critical exposition. It ap-
pears to be the aim of the author to give a
practical application to the doctrines of
Hegel and to show the weakness of his phil
osophy for practical work and to point out
the remedy. This being his aim his ex-
pository criticism is decided success. 1t
presents the philosophy of Hegel to the
American student in English thought, and
in an English dress. and by so doing aids
him greatly in understanding the great Ger
man philosopher. We would advise all
students of philosophy to get the book and
study it.
MEN, PLACES AND THINGS. By William
Mathews, LID, Chicago. s. O. Griggs
d Co., 1887; PIP. 1856; price, $1.5O.
By general consent Professor Mathews is
one of the ablest of American essayists.
His "Getting On in the World" "Great
Conversers," "Words, their Use and Abuse"
"Hours with Men and Books" "Sunday
Chats, "Oratory and Orators" and Glitter
airy Style" are among our most popular and
useful books. This last volume is the full
equal of any of its predecessors. Its biog-
raphical papers on Napoleon" "Wirt,"
"Bulwer," Dumas" "Farrar," "Siddon,"
Parker" Brooke" etc., are very instruo-
tive, and its descriptive and literary essays
are always of value, and no one cen read
them without pleasure. "Cynics and Cynic-
ism," illusions About the Past" ''Cour-
age" "Worry," "The Weaknesses of Great
Men," and other articles have all the interest
of a story. and are packed with illustration,
quotation and reference, and the volume is
just the one to please and instruct almost
any reader.
The Old Testament Studsnt.-This valuable
and ably conducted biblical monthly reached
us early in November. 1t is published in
the interest of the science of biblical inter
probation and more especially for the bene-
fit of students of the Old Testament The
Dresant numbar ia occupiad laroaIv with